26/11 case: Pak judicial panel's India visit may be delayed

A Pakistani judicial commission's visit to India in connection with the Mumbai attacks case is likely to be delayed as an anti-terrorism court today sought an assurance that members of the panel will be allowed to cross-examine key Indian witnesses.
Prosecutors informed the court conducting the trial of seven suspects charged with involvement in the Mumbai attack that they would provide an undertaking from the Indian government that the panel will have the power of cross-examination.
Chief prosecutor Chaudhry Zulifqar Ali told Judge Chaudhry Habib-ur-Rehman that Pakistani authorities were awaiting India's formal response on the issue.
The Pakistani commission is set to make a second visit to Mumbai to record the statements of four witnesses because the anti-terrorism court rejected a report submitted after its first visit on the ground that the panel was not allowed to conduct any cross-examination.

Ali argued during today's hearing that the Indian government had stated it would allow the cross-examination of witnesses.
He further said a previous agreement that barred cross-examination would not have any bearing on the judicial commission's second visit.

Khwaja Haris Ahmed, the counsel for Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, insisted that a "written document" from the Indian government about the cross-examination should be presented in court.
Ali said he would submit a "written assurance" from the Indian side at the next hearing.
Judge Rehman, who is conducting the trial behind closed doors at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, adjourned the case till March 2 and directed the prosecution to submit the Indian government's written assurance.

After the hearing, Ali told PTI that the Pakistan government had written a letter to Indian authorities on February 12 seeking written permission for the judicial commission to cross-examine witnesses.